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As anyone suffering from genetic balding can tell you, this condition is progressive. Despite some very effective treatments for hair loss, most notably Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil), the fight against balding can be quite challenging over the long term since hair loss is progressive and unpredictable. Topical concealers can help by temporarily providing balding men and women with thicker looking hair instantly.

Many men and women swear by these products and have very positive experiences to share. However, while all of these concealers are marketed as being easy to apply, non-messy and virtually permanent until washed out, some users complain of problems including; messy application, running and discoloration when sweating or caught in the rain and staining of hands and pillows.

These concerns led forum member “EpilepticSceptic” to start the thread Will “concealers” evolve and advance further in 5-10 years?, prompting members to share their thoughts and wishes regarding future innovations. Follow the link to contribute your opinions to the discussion.
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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: balding, hair loss, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil

Today’s hair loss sufferers can choose from a variety of proven treatment methods both surgical and non-surgical. From medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) to hair replacement systems, concealers and, of course, hair transplant surgery.

For the average victim of hair loss, one or a combination of these treatments may be all they need to restore their confidence and put their fears about balding to bed. However, for a select few, unrealistic expectations, physiology or other factors may conspire to thwart their hairy hopes.

Does there eventually come a time when even the most tenacious follicular crusader should pack it in and learn to accept their hair loss?

After a massive shed, forum member “Steelie17” ponders the notion of stopping non-surgical hair loss treatments and “Throwing in the towel,” Should balding men and women fight their hair loss to the bitter end or cut their losses and give in to nature? Follow the link to add your opinion.

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss, Rogaine, minoxidil, Propecia, finasteride, hair replacement systems, hair transplant, balding

If only you hadn’t worn a baseball cap to school every day your senior year, perhaps you’d still be sporting that luxurious mane that had all the cheerleaders doing backflips, right? Wrong! Wearing hats does not cause balding. This is only one of the many hair loss myths that continue to perpetuate themselves even in our era of scientific enlightenment. Let’s take a look at some other popular hair loss myths:

• Hair loss is inherited from mom’s side of the family: Stop blaming mom! In fact, go buy her some flowers for the years of guilt she has endured. The balding gene can be inherited from either parent and can even skip a generation.

• Masturbation causes hair loss: Not so. While this may indicate the need for a new hobby, rest assured that masturbation or sexual activity in general does not cause balding.

• Hair length affects balding: Some men believe that wearing their hair longer will stop hair loss while others believe that shaving the head is the key to thicker regrowth. Neither of these theories is correct. The visible hair exiting the scalp is dead tissue composed of keratin. Cutting the hair shaft or allowing it to grow has absolutely no effect on the growth cycle.

• Blow drying/over-styling causes balding: Excessive blow drying and use of styling products can result in dry, damaged hair. However, it should not result in permanent hair loss in an otherwise healthy individual not prone to genetic balding.

Throughout history, men and women have been searching for the secret to curing hair loss. In fact, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (The father of modern medicine) was not unlike modern day hair loss sufferers attempting to reverse their balding. Among other “treatments” to curb hair loss, Hippocrates devised an ancient hair loss remedy that included a mixture of horseradish, cumin, pigeon droppings, and nettles to be applied to the scalp. As you may have guessed, this and hundreds of other wacky treatments have proven to be ineffective in combating thinning hair. The good news for the men and women of the 21^st century is that real options, both surgical and non-surgical now exist.

Despite the number of proven treatments today, many men and women are convinced that the real “cure” already exists and is known only to a select few individuals including the rich and the famous. Unfortunately, these hair loss sufferers quite often find themselves parting with hundreds or thousands of dollars as they gobble up every whimsical lotion, tonic, pill or device being hawked on late-night TV or in the back of magazines. So how do you know what works and what doesn’t in the world of hair restoration?

This question comes from a member of our Hair Restoration Forums and Social Community:

I’m investigating natural hair loss solutions and looking for information on topical magnesium oil. How does it work? Is it effective in fighting genetic baldness?

Magnesium oil, as a hair loss solution, relies upon a generally untested balding theory. As early as the 1940s, researchers began looking at calcium and it’s role in inflammation, wounds, and hair loss. In one instance, a medical student preparing cadavers for anatomical studies noted that bald individuals also demonstrated increased levels of bone calcification in their skulls. From here, the student hypothesized that increased levels of calcium caused a calcification or hardening of the body’s soft tissues. In this instance, calcium build-up caused a hardening of the scalp and forced the hair follicles to die and shed.

Magnesium helps break down and block this calcification, meaning a topical application of magnesium oil to the scalp would (in theory) prevent tissue hardening and save the hair follicles. However, the theory of scalp calcification and its effect on hair shedding is still generally untested, and should probably not be fully accepted until appropriate research is conducted. Because of this, it’s most likely more effective to utilize proven topical hair loss solutions, such as minoxidil (Rogaine), for the time being. However, magnesium, as a supplement, is usually recommended for the maintenance of healthy hair and could be an indication that further research is necessary.

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Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is a popular supplement that supposedly aids in a variety of health functions. Among these alleged health benefits, MSM is proposed to promote hair growth and increase the vitality of one’s natural hair.  In many cases, hair transplant patients with a shaved recipient area (where the new hair grafts have been placed) often use MSM for the first couple of months after surgery to accelerate the growth of their shaved natural hair.  Note that MSM does nothing to expedite the hair transplant growth/maturation process nor does it do anything to stop the progression of genetic baldness.  Yet, the use of MSM still remains popular.  Read our MSM product review for more information.

However, many patients who use this supplement for hair loss report an unwanted side effect – acne breakouts. So, can MSM cause acne? According to wellness experts, MSM aids in optimal health by causing cells and tissues to detoxify and flush unwanted biochemical agents. Popular consensus claims the release of these toxins causes a short period of acne, meaning that MSM can cause an initial acne breakout. These breakouts are allegedly short-lived and avoided by starting treatment with a low dose of MSM and moving gradually toward a higher concentration.

Because MSM alleged primary benefit is to speed up and increase the vitality of one’s natural hair, therapies such as minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia) should be used to treat male pattern balding instead of MSM. However, individuals who choose to use MSM can allegedly experience initial periods of increased acne. Have you experienced an acne breakout while taking MSM as a hair growth therapy? If so, feel free to contribute to the thread on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums – MSM and Breakouts?

Although the topic of green tea as a hair loss remedy is a popular subject, few discussions focus on the tea as a topical therapy. Because of this, many wonder if applying green tea to the scalp can help slow or reverse androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. According to a study conducted at the Seoul University National Hospital, a key ingredient in green tea may have some validity as a topical hair loss treatment.

The study focuses on epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in green tea, and its effect on dermal papilla cells and hair growth cycles. After removing and treating a section of follicular units from research subjects, the scientific team found that the EGCG stimulates hair growth by forcing hair follicles to remain in the expansion, or Anagen phase, and by increasing the active stage of dermal papilla cells (which are robust and lively during the follicular growth phase). However, despite the fact that these results seem promising, there are several issues to consider before concluding that topical green tea can help battle balding.

While the last ten years have seen great technical advances in surgical hair restoration, some balding patients seeking consultations with hair loss physicians will discover that they are not yet candidates for a hair transplant. Oftentimes this is due to the patient being too young. There is no “ideal age” for a hair transplant but male pattern balding is progressive and it can be difficult if not impossible to predict how far a younger patient’s balding with progress. For this reason, it is generally considered prudent to wait until the hair loss pattern is established or hair loss has been stabilized medically.

Balding can be difficult to accept at any age but, when it occurs in your teens or early twenties, it can be devastating to a persona’s self-confidence. Many younger patients become frustrated when an experienced and ethical hair restoration physician refuses to perform a hair transplant on them and may continue to seek opinions from less reputable doctors until they get the answer they are looking for. Unfortunately, the quality hair restoration physicians recommended on the Hair Transplant Network have seen many of these patients come to them in order to repair damage done by these unskilled and disreputable doctors.

So, what can a young, balding man do to curb that feeling of helplessness? Do you simply throw your hands up and watch your hair continue to thin? The first step that one should take is to consult a dermatologist in order to determine the nature of the balding. While most balding is genetic and caused by the hormone DHT, there may be other factors influencing your hair loss such as stress or illness. If male pattern baldness (MPB) is to blame, then you may benefit from using Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride).

For over a decade, balding men have had two clinically proven options for treating their hair loss medically. !n 1988, Rogaine (minoxidil) 2% Topical Solution for Men launched as a prescription medication. Men’s Rogaine 5% Extra Strength Solution was approved for over-the-counter use in 1997. That same year, the FDA also approved finasteride to treat male pattern baldness (MPB) under the brand name Propecia. When used in combination, minoxidil and finasteride are still considered by many experts to be the best drug treatment for hair loss currently available.

However, over the past few years, some patients have begun to explore Avodart (dutasteride) as an alternative to finasteride. The reasons for this switch are varied. Some men hope that dutasteride will offer fewer side effects while others have simply not had success with Propecia and are looking for something more effective. Whatever the reason, it is important to note that Avodart is currently not FDA approved for the treatment of male pattern balding. So how does Avodart work? What are its side effects? How do you know if it’s time to make the switch?

Dutasteride, the active ingredient in Avodart is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that inhibits the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As most balding men can tell you, DHT is the hormone responsible for androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. While Propecia (finasteride) only inhibits the Type II isoform of 5-alpha reductase, Avodart (dutasteride) blocks both Type I and Type II, potentially making it a more effective treatment for hair loss.

A research team working at the University of Sweden identified a new gene that may prove important in the fight against hair loss. Scientists found that the gene, Lhx2, is crucial in regulating hair growth during a hair follicle‘s expansion, or Anagen, phase.

Hair follicles undergo three natural phases, or cycles – the Anagen, or growth phase (where follicles are active and hair growth occurs), the Catagen, or transition stage (where the growth cycle stops), and the Telogen, or resting phase (where follicles are no longer active and the static hairs shed). After the resting stage is complete (usually a period of 3 months) a new growth phase begins and the follicular cycle continues.

Researchers have discovered that Lhx2 is present during the Anagen (growth) phase, follicles cannot produce new hair in the absence of Lhx2, and the gene can actually activate the growth cycle. These findings make Lhx2 and its effect on follicular cycles and genetic hair growth an important tool in future balding research.

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Blake Bloxham -aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Follow our community on Twitter

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss, Lhx2, hair growth, hair follicle, follicular cycles, genetic hair growth, balding